“That’s so Raven, it’s the future I can see (I always thought this was “it’s a futurocracy”); That’s so Raven, it’s so mysterious to me.” That’s about the extent of what I know about Raven-Symoné’s career between her time as cute little Olivia Kendall on The Cosby Show and her new ABC Family show State of Georgia. Catchy song and all, but she’s largely a known entity that I know nothing about.
Except for the fact that, despite all of her attempts at building a career — acting and other — she’s never quite stuck. Malcolm-Jamal Warner syndrome, perhaps? Is she a good actor who’s just never been able to replicate the success she found alongside Bill Cosby?
Like I said, I didn’t know much about her career between 1992 and now (save for Doctor Dolittle), so State of Georgia was going to have to speak volumes. While it certainly did, I’m not sure it’s saying anything that Raven would want us to hear.
The most frequent thought that kept floating through my mind was, “Is this really happening?” Ignoring the tired plots and stale stereotypes, it was just plain bad. Raven doesn’t so much act as she exclaims and flashes hand motions, and I had to start wondering: could Olivia have been so great merely because she was five and acting alongside a man known to do wonders with cute kids? Was it less “a star is born” and more “look at that face?”
And what an odd career move for Loretta Devine, who plays Georgia’s (Raven) Aunt Honey. She’s not a headliner on Grey’s Anatomy, but still. The one bright moment? American Idol’s own Kevin Covais playing nerdy science guy Lewis, who was working on a group project with Georgia’s best friend Jo (Majandra Delfino), Jo of course one of those TV scientists who can supposedly do anything and everything even quasi related to science because … what’s the difference? Great stereotypes across the rocket science study group (he said sarcastically). But it was great to see little Chicken Boy!
The other half of my “blast back to sitcom stars past” was an episode of Melissa & Joey, starring Blossom’s (and Brotherly Love’s) Joey Lawrence alongside Sabrina, the Teenage Witch‘s (and Clarissa Explains It All’s) Melissa Joan Hart.
I knew a tiny bit about the series going in, but what I didn’t know was how much a copy of Who’s the Boss? it is. Male housekeeper/nanny, undeniable sexual tension boiling beneath the surface … the biggest piece missing is that, since neither kid is Joe’s or Melissa’s, neither one of them has the maturity that Tony and Angela brought to the table. The result? Immature jokes and high school-like exchanges.
And honestly, I think the show could do without the kids. Granted they’re the only reason that Joe and Melissa met — when Melissa’s sister goes to prison Melissa gains custody of her two grown kids — but neither kid added anything more than an additional person to speak lines.
Retooled, even as a been-there-done-that romantic comedy, I think Joey and Melissa — the actors — have enough chemistry to make the show work. As is, it’s a show that survives cancellation just by being a little better than its neighbor (something Melissa & Joey succeeds at exponentially in comparison to State of Georgia). But is that what these two “once upon a time successful” actors are looking for?
Give Joey Lawrence and Melissa Joan Hart something better to work with, and I bet they shine. Raven-Symoné, on the other hand? Maybe she’s better off frozen in time as little Olivia.
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Jul 11, 2011 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
